Carbon emissions in China's steel industry from a life cycle perspective: Carbon footprint insights.

China is the most important steel producer in the world, and its steel industry is one of the most carbon-intensive industries in China. Consequently, research on carbon emissions from the steel industry is crucial for China to achieve carbon neutrality and meet its sustainable global development goals. We constructed a carbon dioxide (CO2) emission model for China's iron and steel industry from a life cycle perspective, conducted an empirical analysis based on data from 2019, and calculated the CO2 emissions of the industry throughout its life cycle. Key emission reduction factors were identified using sensitivity analysis. The results demonstrated that the CO2 emission intensity of the steel industry was 2.33 ton CO2/ton, and the production and manufacturing stages were the main sources of CO2 emissions, accounting for 89.84% of the total steel life-cycle emissions. Notably, fossil fuel combustion had the highest sensitivity to steel CO2 emissions, with a sensitivity coefficient of 0.68, reducing the amount of fossil fuel combustion by 20% and carbon emissions by 13.60%. The sensitivities of power structure optimization and scrap consumption were similar, while that of the transportation structure adjustment was the lowest, with a sensitivity coefficient of less than 0.1. Given the current strategic goals of peak carbon and carbon neutrality, it is in the best interest of the Chinese government to actively promote energy-saving and low-carbon technologies, increase the ratio of scrap steel to steelmaking, and build a new power system.

Quantifying the combined impacts of anthropogenic CO2 emissions and watershed alteration on estuary acidification at biologically-relevant time scales: a case study from Tillamook Bay, OR, USA.

The impacts of ocean acidification (OA) on coastal water quality have been subject to intensive research in the past decade, but how emissions-driven OA combines with human modifications of coastal river inputs to affect estuarine acidification dynamics is less well understood. This study presents a methodology for quantifying the synergistic water quality impacts of OA and riverine acidification on biologically-relevant timescales through a case study from a small, temperate estuary influenced by coastal upwelling and watershed development. We characterized the dynamics and drivers of carbonate chemistry in Tillamook Bay, OR (USA), along with its coastal ocean and riverine end-members, through a series of synoptic samplings and continuous water quality monitoring from July 2017 to July 2018. Synoptic river sampling showed acidification and increased CO 2 content in areas with higher proportions of watershed anthropogenic land use. We propagated the impacts of 1). the observed riverine acidification, and 2). modeled OA changes to incoming coastal ocean waters across the full estuarine salinity spectrum and quantified changes in estuarine carbonate chemistry at a 15-minute temporal resolution. The largest magnitude of acidification (-1.4 pH ⊤ units) was found in oligo- and mesohaline portions of the estuary due to the poor buffering characteristics of these waters, and was primarily driven by acidified riverine inputs. Despite this, emissions-driven OA is responsible for over 94% of anthropogenic carbon loading to Tillamook Bay and the dominant driver of acidification across most of the estuary due to its large tidal prism and relatively small river discharges. This dominance of ocean-sourced anthropogenic carbon challenges the efficacy of local management actions to ameliorate estuarine acidification impacts. Despite the relatively large acidification effects experienced in Tillamook Bay (-0.16 to -0.23 p H ⊤ units) as compared with typical open ocean change (approximately -0.1 pH ⊤ units), observations of estuarine pH ⊤ would meet existing state standards for pH ⊤ . Our analytical framework addresses pressing needs for water quality assessment and coastal resilience strategies to differentiate the impacts of anthropogenic acidification from natural variability in dynamic estuarine systems.

Field aging slows down biochar-mediated soil carbon dioxide emissions.

Biochar is widely used due to its potential in direct or indirect soil carbon sequestration. However, there is a lack of comprehensive studies on the changes in the physicochemical properties of biochar after long-term application in different types of soils and the effects on CO2 emissions. In this study, paddy soil and fluvisol were selected as typical acidic and alkaline soils. Rice biochar (RB) and maize biochar (MB) were incorporated into paddy soil and fluvisol for one year, and characterizations (e.g., SEM-EDS, FTIR, 3D-EEM, and TG-DTG) of pristine and aged biochars were analyzed. Incubation experiments were conducted to assess the impact of aged biochar on CO2 emissions from paddy soil and fluvisol. Results indicated consistent trends in the physicochemical properties of biochar after one year of aging in both acidic and alkaline soils. Aged biochars exhibited significant structural degradation, increased specific surface area, and increased oxygen-containing functional groups. The DOM fluorescence intensity of biochar decreased and the thermal stability increased after aging. Compared to pristine biochar, aged biochar promoted soil carbon sequestration, resulting in varied reductions in cumulative CO2 emissions from paddy soil and fluvisol in the short term. Spearman's correlation coefficient analysis and PCA loading plot revealed that field-aged biochar primarily influenced CO2 emissions from soil and carbon sequestration by reducing biochar DOC release and bioavailability of DOM, while enhancing the humification of biochar DOM. These findings suggest that aged biochar favors soil carbon sequestration in the short term, both in acidic and alkaline soils.

Techno-enviro-economic analysis of grid-connected solar powered floating PV water pumping system for farmland applications: A numerical design model.

To meet the required load of a farm in the rural area in Mafraq, Jordan, the complete floating photovoltaic (FPV) water pumping sizing, modelling, and optimization of an on-grid PV system with comprehensive capacity, energy output cost, and emission estimations are outlined in this work. The novelty of this study lies in its comprehensive approach that integrates technical, environmental, and economic factors into a unified framework for designing a PV water pumping system, particularly in scenarios where grid supply is feasible or economically viable. A proposal has been made to install PV panels over the water lake to improve the overall system efficiency and to give an aesthetic appearance. The proposed system is composed of a 165 kW PV array and three 55 kW inverters, which cost 54696.92 JD as the initial cost, CO2 emission reduction of more than 5000 tons and produce electricity at 0.028 JD/kWh. The results indicated that the FPV option demonstrates an about 5 % increase in efficiency compared to the other two scenarios. Also, the FPV option has higher costs due to a 25 % increase in system cost but results in lower CO2 emissions compared to the other two options. Top of Form As shown from the results, the two sizing methods for solar water pumping systems, the equations-based method, and the PVsyst simulation tool give the same results. By following this methodology, one can assess the load, size the system, simulate its operation, and analyse the expected performance. Furthermore, the findings of this study could be valuable in designing a grid-connected FPV water pumping system.

Mapping the relationship between urban form and CO2 emissions in three US cities using the Local Climate Zones (LCZ) framework.

Understanding the relationship between urban form and CO2 emissions is essential for developing mitigation measures. However, most studies so far have been limited to examining the urban form at the macro level. Existing studies have limitations, such as a lack of granularity and a standardized approach, and focus on a limited set of urban form indicators. To address these issues, this study employs the Local Climate Zones (LCZ) framework to investigate the relationship between urban form and CO2 emissions at the micro level in three American cities: Baltimore, Indianapolis, and Los Angeles. Results indicate that LCZ offers a valuable framework for mapping emissions at the building and street level and facilitates a better understanding of different urban forms' emission behavior. According to the findings, emission intensity in compact areas with few or no trees and limited green space is up to 3.5 times higher than in areas characterized by open layouts, scattered trees, and abundant plant cover. Also, per capita emissions in compact areas are, on average, two times higher than in areas with more open layouts. Additionally, the results show that compact high-rise and mid-rise areas without trees and greenery (LCZ 1 and 2), particularly in Baltimore and Indianapolis, experience higher emissions levels than other LCZs during the daytime. The findings suggest that the LCZ framework holds promise for understanding the link between urban form and emissions in intricate urban settings, as well as for low-carbon urban planning and climate change mitigation.

Province-Level Decarbonization Potentials for China's Road Transportation Sector.

Decarbonizing road transportation is an important task in achieving China's climate goals. Illustrating the mitigation potentials of announced policies and identifying additional strategies for various vehicle fleets are fundamental in optimizing future control pathways. Herein, we developed a comprehensive analysis of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from on-road vehicles as well as their mitigation potentials based on real-world databases and up-to-date policy scenarios. Total CO2 emissions of China's road transportation are estimated to be 1102 million tons (Mt) in 2022 and will continue to increase if future strategies are implemented as usual. Under current development trend and announced policy controls (i.e., integrated scenario), annual CO2 emissions are estimated to peak at 1235 Mt in 2025 and then decline to approximately 200 Mt around 2050. The scenario analysis indicates that electrification of passenger vehicles emerges as the most imperative decarbonization strategy for achieving carbon peak before 2030. Additionally, fuel economy improvement of conventional vehicles is identified to be effective for CO2 emission reduction for trucks until 2035 while new energy vehicle promotion shows great mitigation potentials in the long term. This study provides insight into heterogeneous low-carbon transportation transition strategies and valuable support for achieving China's dual-carbon goals.

Trend analysis on CO2 emissions and their implications: a comparative study between India and China.

This research paper aims to provide a comparative trend analysis of CO2 emissions from the two largest emitters, India and China. The analysis focuses on the main sources of CO2 emissions-coal, oil, cement, and gas and their annual data and global share percentages from 1960 to 2019. The study uses non-parametric trend analysis methods, which do not rely on assumptions of normality, outliers, or data length. Pettitt's test, a well-established non-parametric method, was used to detect sudden shifts in the data. The Mann-Kendall (MK) test and Sen's slope estimator were then applied to identify the presence or absence of monotonic linear trends and assess the magnitude of the slopes. In addition, the innovative trend analysis (ITA) method was used, which is particularly effective in detecting and visualizing monotonic, non-monotonic, and sub-trends. The ITA method has the advantage of presenting these trends in a graphical format. According to the results of Pettitt's test, an abrupt change was detected in India in 1989 for all sources of CO2 emissions. In China, however, an abrupt change was detected in 1989 for coal and gas-related sources, while other sources showed a change point in 1990. The results of the MK test and the ITA method showed that all sources show only monotonic increasing trends. Based on the results of Sen's slope estimator, the average rate of change of CO2 emissions is significantly higher in China than in India in all categories after the detection of the abrupt change point. Policymakers should promote the adoption of renewable energy sources, such as solar, wind, hydro, and geothermal, and also implement strategies to control deforestation to counteract the abnormal increase in CO2 emissions. Finally, this research lays a solid foundation for future studies on CO2 emissions.

Surprising minimisation of CO2 emissions from a sandy loam soil over a rye growing period achieved by liming (CaCO3).

Agricultural liming improves acidic soils productivity and is considered a lever for mitigating nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from soils. However, the benefit of liming in reducing soil greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions depends on the evolution of carbon from the calcium carbonate (CaCO3), and on the evolution of soil organic carbon (SOC) after CaCO3 application. The literature, based on limited field data, presents contrasting effects of liming on inorganic- and SOC-derived CO2 emissions, raising concerns that the reduction in N2O emissions could be offset by increased CO2 emissions. Therefore, this study aimed to monitor N2O and CO2 emissions following the application of lime materials to an acidic soil. In situ, we monitored the effect of two liming products (SC = synthetic CaCO3 and MC = marine CaCO3) on soil CO2 emissions and compared this with control plots, during the growing season of a winter rye, using the static chamber method. Soil pH, N2O emissions, mineral nitrogen concentrations, soil moisture and temperature were measured during the experiment, as were plant biomass and SOC (stock and composition) on the day of harvest. Lime addition increased soil pH from 5.7 to around 7.0, kernel yield from 320 to >400 g m-2 and resulted in a significant reduction in soil CO2 emissions by approximately 40 % for both liming materials while it slightly increased N2O emissions, that had nevertheless remained very low during the experiment. SOC at harvest was not significantly affected, while an increase in dissolved organic and inorganic carbon in the soil was observed. Further investigations is needed to clarify the mechanisms explaining these observations and to define conditions where liming application could act as a potential lever for carbon storage. Our results suggest that the IPCC principles, predicting increased CO2 emissions from lime-derived C, may need to be re-examined in the future.

Quantifying future carbon emissions uncertainties under stochastic modeling and Monte Carlo simulation: Insights for environmental policy consideration for the Belt and Road Initiative Region.

This study critically examines future carbon (CO2) emissions in the Belt & Road Initiative (BRI) region, considering factors such as energy consumption, economic growth, population growth, and population density. The objective of this study is to identify critical areas of higher emissions, which require policy intervention capable of strengthening sustainability in the BRI compact. A combined approach of stochastic modeling and Monte Carlo simulations was employed, utilizing panel data from 45 countries in the BRI region from 1990 to 2021. Results confirm that emissions are higher in all scenarios in direct proportion to electric power consumption, population growth, and Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth. In scenarios with high emissions, a continuous and significant upward trend in CO2 emissions was observe. The medium emissions scenario exhibited a more moderated rise in emissions, suggesting a balance between economic development and environmental considerations. Critical areas for future environmental policy-making resides in electric power consumption, population growth, and GDP growth. The study strongly recommends for a shift from the current focus on road and railway infrastructure to renewable energy infrastructure, green innovations and efficient technology transfer to member countries. Without this, the BRI region is likely to face increased emissions, posing significant challenges to future sustainable development and global environmental sustainability.

Uncovering the drivers of CO2 emissions in the United States: The hidden spillover effects.

This study explores the applicability of the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) hypothesis in the United States (US) from 2006 to 2020, employing the Spatial Durbin Model (SDM) to analyze the cross-border effects of pollution among states. The results indicate that although economic growth initially decreases environmental degradation, it subsequently contributes to more significant environmental degradation, challenging the EKC hypothesis's validity at the US state level. Factors such as higher energy prices and reliance on fossil fuels are also identified as significant drivers of environmental deterioration, with varying impacts observed across states. Conversely, adopting renewable energy sources is crucial in mitigating pollution levels. The study underscores the importance of coordinated state-level efforts to harmonize economic growth with sustainable environmental practices. It highlights the complexities of policymaking in balancing economic development with environmental conservation and emphasizes the need for targeted interventions to address environmental challenges effectively. This research enhances our understanding of sustainable development pathways amidst diverse regional dynamics within the US by providing empirical evidence and policy insights.

COP 28 Policy Perspectives: Achieving Environmental Sustainability through FDI, Technological Innovation Index, Trade Openness, Energy Consumption, and Economic Development in N-11 Emerging Economies.

Despite remarkable success in attracting foreign direct investment (FDI) to achieve maximum economic growth, the Next-11 emerging economies grappling with an undesirable situation of environmental degradation have become a hot topic at COP28. Researchers have long focused on this connection, emphasizing the urgent need for international and national environmentalists to promote sustainable development (SD) in these rapidly growing economies under the United Nations (UN) Framework Convention on Climate Change action plans. As a result, this study examines the role of FDI in the N-11 emerging economies, focusing on energy usage and technological innovation within the theoretical framework of the Halo-Haven hypothesis, covering the period from 1990 to 2022. We utilize ARDL, FMOLS, and DOLS techniques to analyze both short-term dynamics and long-term equilibrium relationships, effectively managing heterogeneity, time dynamics, and cross-sectional dependence issues to produce comprehensive results. The long-term analysis supports the haven hypothesis, demonstrating an affirmative relationship between FDI, economic growth, and carbon emissions, whereas energy usage is negatively associated with carbon emissions. Furthermore, the D-H test established a reciprocal causal relationship between variables such as FDI, economic growth, trade openness, and environmental pollution. However, we found a one-way causal correspondence in the usage of green energy, the technological innovation index, and carbon emissions. Given the mixed findings, policymakers should focus on attracting FDI to the green energy sector while reinforcing regulations and implementing stringent oversight for FDI in energy-intensive industries. This approach will ensure that such investments adhere to high environmental standards, thereby benefiting future generations.

World economies' progress in decoupling from CO2 emissions.

The relationship between economic growth and CO2 emissions has been analyzed testing the environmental Kuznets curve hypothesis, but traditional econometric methods may be flawed. An alternative method is proposed using segmented-sample regressions and implemented in 164 countries (98.34% of world population) over different periods from 1822 to 2018. Results suggest that while the association between GDP per capita and CO2 emissions per capita is weakening over time, it remains positive globally, with only some high-income countries showing a reversed association in recent years. While 49 countries have decoupled emissions from economic growth, 115 have not. Most African, American, and Asian countries have not decoupled, whereas most European and Oceanians have. These findings highlight the urgency for effective climate policies because decoupling remains unachieved on a global scale, and we are moving away from, rather than approaching, the Paris Agreement goal of limiting temperature increase to 1.5 °C above preindustrial levels.

Unveiling spatial variations in atmospheric CO2 sources: a case study of metropolitan area of Naples, Italy.

In the lower atmosphere, CO2 emissions impact human health and ecosystems, making data at this level essential for addressing carbon-cycle and public-health questions. The atmospheric concentration of CO2 is crucial in urban areas due to its connection with air quality, pollution, and climate change, becoming a pivotal parameter for environmental management and public safety. In volcanic zones, geogenic CO2 profoundly affects the environment, although hydrocarbon combustion is the primary driver of increased atmospheric CO2 and global warming. Distinguishing geogenic from anthropogenic emissions is challenging, especially through air CO2 concentration measurements alone. This study presents survey results on the stable isotope composition of carbon and oxygen in CO2 and airborne CO2 concentration in Naples' urban area, including the Campi Flegrei caldera, a widespread hydrothermal/volcanic zone in the metropolitan area. Over the past 50 years, two major volcanic unrests (1969-72 and 1982-84) were monitored using seismic, deformation, and geochemical data. Since 2005, this area has experienced ongoing unrest, involving the pressurization of the underlying hydrothermal system as a causal factor of the current uplift in the Pozzuoli area and the increased CO2 emissions in the atmosphere. To better understand CO2 emission dynamics and to quantify its volcanic origin a mobile laboratory was used. Results show that CO2 levels in Naples' urban area exceed background atmospheric levels, indicating an anthropogenic origin from fossil fuel combustion. Conversely, in Pozzuoli's urban area, the stable isotope composition reveals a volcanic origin of the airborne CO2. This study emphasizes the importance of monitoring stable isotopes of atmospheric CO2, especially in volcanic areas, contributing valuable insights for environmental and public health management.

Impact of Land Use and Land Cover (LULC) Changes on Carbon Stocks and Economic Implications in Calabria Using Google Earth Engine (GEE).

Terrestrial ecosystems play a crucial role in global carbon cycling by sequestering carbon from the atmosphere and storing it primarily in living biomass and soil. Monitoring terrestrial carbon stocks is essential for understanding the impacts of changes in land use on carbon sequestration. This study investigates the potential of remote sensing techniques and the Google Earth Engine to map and monitor changes in the forests of Calabria (Italy) over the past two decades. Using satellite-sourced Corine land cover datasets and the InVEST model, changes in Land Use Land Cover (LULC), and carbon concentrations are analyzed, providing insights into the carbon dynamics of the region. Furthermore, cellular automata and Markov chain techniques are used to simulate the future spatial and temporal dynamics of LULC. The results reveal notable fluctuations in LULC; specifically, settlement and bare land have expanded at the expense of forested and grassland areas. These land use and land cover changes significantly declined the overall carbon stocks in Calabria between 2000 and 2024, resulting in notable economic impacts. The region experienced periods of both decline and growth in carbon concentration, with overall losses resulting in economic impacts up to EUR 357.57 million and carbon losses equivalent to 6,558,069.68 Mg of CO 2 emissions during periods of decline. Conversely, during periods of carbon gain, the economic benefit reached EUR 41.26 million, with sequestered carbon equivalent to 756,919.47 Mg of CO 2 emissions. This research aims to highlight the critical role of satellite data in enhancing our understanding and development of comprehensive strategies for managing carbon stocks in terrestrial ecosystems.

Bayesian model of tilling wheat confronting climatic and sustainability challenges.

Conventional farming poses threats to sustainable agriculture in growing food demands and increasing flooding risks. This research introduces a Bayesian Belief Network (BBN) to address these concerns. The model explores tillage adaptation for flood management in soils with varying organic carbon (OC) contents for winter wheat production. Three real soils, emphasizing texture and soil water properties, were sourced from the NETMAP soilscape of the Pang catchment area in Berkshire, United Kingdom. Modified with OC content at four levels (1, 3, 5, 7%), they were modeled alongside relevant variables in a BBN. The Decision Support System for Agrotechnology Transfer (DSSAT) simulated datasets across 48 cropping seasons to parameterize the BBN. The study compared tillage effects on wheat yield, surface runoff, and GHG-CO2 emissions, categorizing model parameters (from lower to higher bands) based on statistical data distribution. Results revealed that NT outperformed CT in the highest parametric category, comparing probabilistic estimates with reduced GHG-CO2 emissions from "7.34 to 7.31%" and cumulative runoff from "8.52 to 8.50%," while yield increased from "7.46 to 7.56%." Conversely, CT exhibited increased emissions from "7.34 to 7.36%" and cumulative runoff from "8.52 to 8.55%," along with reduced yield from "7.46 to 7.35%." The BBN model effectively captured uncertainties, offering posterior probability distributions reflecting conditional relationships across variables and offered decision choice for NT favoring soil carbon stocks in winter wheat (highest among soils "NT.OC-7%PDPG8," e.g., 286,634 kg/ha) over CT (lowest in "CT.OC-3.9%PDPG8," e.g., 5,894 kg/ha). On average, NT released minimum GHG- CO2 emissions to "3,985 kgCO2eqv/ha," while CT emitted "7,415 kgCO2eqv/ha." Conversely, NT emitted "8,747 kgCO2eqv/ha" for maximum emissions, while CT emitted "15,356 kgCO2eqv/ha." NT resulted in lower surface runoff against CT in all soils and limits runoff generations naturally for flood alleviation with the potential for customized improvement. The study recommends the model for extensive assessments of various spatiotemporal conditions. The research findings align with sustainable development goals, e.g., SDG12 and SDG13 for responsible production and climate actions, respectively, as defined by the Agriculture and Food Organization of the United Nations.

Financial inclusion and environmental pollution in sub-Saharan Africa: moderating effects of economic growth and renewable energy.

A thriving literature exists about the role of financial inclusion in socio-economic development. Nevertheless, the environmental effects of financial inclusion are largely unknown in the literature, especially in sub-Saharan African countries. Therefore, this study explores the association between financial inclusion and CO2 emissions utilizing data from 23 sub-Saharan Africa for the period 2004-2019. Based on different estimation methods such as dynamic ordinary least squares (DOLS), fully modified ordinary least squares (FMOLS), canonical correlation regression (CCR), and an instrumental variable generalized-method of moment (IV-GMM), the results show that financial inclusion is responsible for a substantial increase in CO2 emissions. In addition, financial inclusion moderates economic growth, resulting in higher CO2 emissions. Alternatively, financial inclusion moderates renewable energy use to lower CO2 emissions. The outcomes also verify the presence of the Environmental Kuznets Curve hypothesis (EKC). This study proposes uniting financial inclusion and environmental policies as a strategy for reducing CO2 emissions in sub-Saharan Africa.

Quantifying China's iron and steel industry's CO2 emissions and environmental health burdens: A pathway to sustainable transformation.

Assessing the iron and steel industry's (ISI) impact on climate change and environmental health is vital, particularly in China, where this sector significantly influences air quality and CO2 emissions. There is a lack of comprehensive analyses that consider the environmental and health burdens of manufacturing processes for ISI enterprises. Here, we present an integrated emission inventory that encompasses air pollutants and CO2 emissions from 811 ISI enterprises and five key manufacturing processes in 2020. Our analysis shows that sintering is the primary source of air pollution in the ISI. It contributes 71% of SO2, 73% of NO x , and 54% of PM2.5 emissions. On the other hand, 81% of total CO2 emissions come from blast furnaces. Significantly, the contributions of ISI have resulted in an increase of 3.6 µg m-3 in national population-weighted PM2.5 concentration, causing approximately 59,035 premature deaths in 2020. Emissions from Hebei, Jiangsu, Shandong, Shanxi, and Inner Mongolia provinces contributed to 48% of PM2.5-related deaths in China. Moreover, the transportation of air pollutants across provincial borders highlights a concerning trend of environmental health inequality. Based on the research findings, it is crucial for ISI manufacturers to prioritize the removal of outdated production capacities and adopt energy-efficient and advanced techniques, along with ultra-low emission technologies. This is particularly important for those manufacturers with substantial environmental footprints. These transformative actions are essential in mitigating the environmental and health impacts in the affected regions.

How does participation in Global Value Chains affect embodied carbon emissions in international trade? New insights from cross-country panel data analysis.

Global Value Chains (GVCs) significantly influence international trade and environmental outcomes. Despite the economic benefits of GVCs, their impact on the environment remains under-examined. This study  analyzes the effects of GVC participation (considering forward and backward positions) on total carbon emissions embodied in exports (TEEE) and imports (TEEI). Utilizing panel data from 65 economies spanning 1995 to 2018, we apply input-output matrices and the system generalized method of moments (GMM-SYS) approach. Our results indicate that GVC participation generally is associated with reductions in TEEI and increases in TEEE, with backward participation exerting a more substantial impact. Furthermore, we observed asymmetrical impacts of GVC participation between developed and developing countries. Developed nations tend to reap greater benefits from GVC in terms of diminished CO2 emissions associated with imports, as well as notable CO2 reductions in both exports and imports, particularly when forward participation is the focal point. Conversely, developing countries grapple with heightened environmental burdens stemming from their engagement in backward linkages.

Transitioning from gridlock to sustainability: advancing transport strategies for eco-friendly solutions in high-income countries.

The study aims to comprehend sustainable behaviors in high-income nations, where human-environment interactions are crucial. Increased transportation needs in industrialized countries highlight the importance of environmental challenges affecting human well-being. Railway passenger carrier, automobile energy efficiency, technology breakthroughs, financial incentives, and public-private partnerships (PPPs) affect congestion and sustainability, which the study analyses for sound policy inferences in a panel of 28 high-income nations from 2000 to 2022. The panel ARDL estimates reveal that railway passenger carrier increases carbon emissions in the short run while it improves them over time, highlighting the importance of urban planning. Environmental pollution, energy use, transportation behavior (including PPPs), and technical innovation have an inverse connection, demonstrating the efficacy of energy-efficient transport methods, research and development, and renewable energy sources. However, economic incentives highly correspond with carbon-intensive habits, emphasizing the need for high-income countries to phase them out.

Convergence of CO2 emissions among the selected countries on the Silk Road: evidence from nonlinear panel unit root tests.

This study analyzes the convergence of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by examining the stationarity of the relative per capita CO2 emissions of 18 selected countries on the Silk Road for the period 1990-2020. To examine the stationarity of relative per capita CO2 emissions for those 18 countries, we applied a large battery the newly proposed nonlinear panel unit root tests that allow for several forms of state-dependent and time-dependent nonlinearities. We also applied conventional linear panel unit root tests. The linear and nonlinear panel unit root tests account for cross-country dependencies, and the SPSM procedure is applied to these tests in order to see how many countries in the panel sample are converging to the steady state. The test results of linear and nonlinear panel unit root test reveal that the relative per-capita CO2 emissions of 10 out of 18 countries are stationary meaning that the CO2 emissions of these 10 countries converge to the steady-state level over time. Especially, size and sign nonlinearities better capture the convergence dynamics of per capita CO2 emissions towards the steady-state level for seven countries. As we have found that 56% of countries' per capita CO2 emissions are converging, this result has important policy implications.